Audrey Hepburn famously said 'Paris is always a good idea!'
I agree. it is something, Nathan and I have wanted to do for a few years and as each year has come and gone we have made sensible decisions that really finances wouldn't stretch or would be better used elsewhere. I think the wait made the trip all the more sweet. Simon and Carol bequested us Marriott points for our birthday (the only good thing which comes from Simon having to work in Portsmouth during the week) and with the blessing of having willing and able parents we were able to get away for three whole nights! It was so, so lovely.
At the airport on the way home, I jotted down a few thoughts on travelling to Paris in case in the future we get the opportunity to come again - oh I do hope so!
1. It sucks when the RER B from Charles Ge Galle a Paris is broken The alternative is to travel by coach which circulates the airport's complex roundabout system twice before you exit, takes over an hour and a half into Paris and costs 17.50 euro instead of the 40 minute 10 euro journey on the train.
2. Glaciere station is closer than Saint Jacques to Marriott Rive Gauche - tried and tested both.
Within moments of stepping off the metro we bumped into 'Mr Could- he- possibly -look -anymore French?'
3.Being an elite member at a hotel is great - upgraded to a suite, VIP lounge with complementary breakfast, soft drinks and hor d'eves, free wifi.
4. Choosing to upgrade to a suite with two bathrooms instead of one with a view is the better choice.
5. It is really hard to smile when someone has offered to take a photo for you on your own camera because inside all you are thinking is 'please don't steal my camera!' This happened at our very first photo of the day on the bridge opposite Notre Dam, a student girl offered and I said 'yes' but inside my heart was racing and I just wanted my camera back! I felt bad because she was genuinely wanting to be helpful and I think I was on high 'pick pocket' alert having read plenty about it in the travel guides - sad that we become so distrusting isn't it? Anyway the rest of the trip we took plenty of selfies and felt the better for it! Nathan Obliged for a photo shoot as we queued to climb the bell tower of Notre Dam. This man cracks me up with his ability to goof around (most the ofthe time unintentionally) in front of the camera!
6. The bell tower is a good work out though apparently not as much as climbing the arc d'triumph (the girls behind me commented, so I take their word for it). The view from the top is great and if your hubs is a Paris expert he can point out all the main attractions including the street lined with kebab shops! What can I say - former missionary! Grecs were a weekly highlight!At the airport on the way home, I jotted down a few thoughts on travelling to Paris in case in the future we get the opportunity to come again - oh I do hope so!
1. It sucks when the RER B from Charles Ge Galle a Paris is broken The alternative is to travel by coach which circulates the airport's complex roundabout system twice before you exit, takes over an hour and a half into Paris and costs 17.50 euro instead of the 40 minute 10 euro journey on the train.
2. Glaciere station is closer than Saint Jacques to Marriott Rive Gauche - tried and tested both.
Within moments of stepping off the metro we bumped into 'Mr Could- he- possibly -look -anymore French?'
3.Being an elite member at a hotel is great - upgraded to a suite, VIP lounge with complementary breakfast, soft drinks and hor d'eves, free wifi.
4. Choosing to upgrade to a suite with two bathrooms instead of one with a view is the better choice.
5. It is really hard to smile when someone has offered to take a photo for you on your own camera because inside all you are thinking is 'please don't steal my camera!' This happened at our very first photo of the day on the bridge opposite Notre Dam, a student girl offered and I said 'yes' but inside my heart was racing and I just wanted my camera back! I felt bad because she was genuinely wanting to be helpful and I think I was on high 'pick pocket' alert having read plenty about it in the travel guides - sad that we become so distrusting isn't it? Anyway the rest of the trip we took plenty of selfies and felt the better for it! Nathan Obliged for a photo shoot as we queued to climb the bell tower of Notre Dam. This man cracks me up with his ability to goof around (most the ofthe time unintentionally) in front of the camera!
7. Nothing compares well to Angelina's African hot chocolate! As thick as sauce - chocolate heaven.
8. I love Parisian parks. Plenty of chairs for communal gathering or lazy magazine reading (there is a WHSmiths right by the Tuileries gardens perfect for picking up an English mag), wide tree lined avenues. Trampoline areas which made me wistful for the children, lots of runners, Australians who ignore the polite requests to stay off the grass, couples freely showing PDA, families punting mini yachts on the lake, couples doing paired Tai chi, live music, more runners!
9. Seriously, how big is the Louvre??? Mind blowing!
10. Scare Coeur = a great place to visit at dusk. Musicians holding impromptu concerts on the stairs. John Lennon's 'Imagine' gets the large mixed crowd going. Being on a hill it is a great place to watch the lights come on over the city. Take momentary peace inside the basilisk, watch the nun carefully prepare for mass with a quiet reverence and then be escorted by bodyguard to a different chapel. The square close by still holds the same atmosphere and picture etched in my memory from 1994/5 when I visited on my French exchange.
11. It is a good idea to make sure that the hubs wears decent socks with out holes. Holey socks, rub and create blisters which hurt. Keeping hubs watered and well fed is advised if you don't want him to have a grumpy couple of hours (negotiated down to 1.5 hours!)
12. Musee d'Orsay - fabulous building, great clock and rose sculpted ceiling. Nathan has a hippy taste in art - showing a preference for pieces displaying the colours of the rainbow. He shows great disdain for art depicting Jesus surrounded by 12 naked apostles and will likely made a loud comment about it! Some parents can actually take their children to places like this and get them engaged in related activities on ipads - we saw it with our own eyes! We giggled at the thoughts of how our three would have each interacted with the art gallery! Not sure we are in a rush to make the theoretical into reality!
A few quick points to round of this list -
13. American ladies are noticeably louder than most other demographics of people "YOU TOLD ME TO GET OFF" shouted three times, loud in the VIP lounge, loud on the metro.
14. H&M sells different things in France than England, so if you see something in the French one buy it then.
15. When you order a salad, it will be HUGE!
16. Kebabs in France are soooo much better - fact.
17. Duty free at airports in England is so much better than in France - fact.
18. If you do get the chance to visit this city, then go with your love because nothing else compares - fact.x
Around Paris in a number of selfies
Our collective favourite selfie of the trip
-Tuleries Gardens
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